The Republicans were first to the microphone, as Texas Gov. Rick Perry teamed up with Sens. John Cornyn, Ted Cruz and a strong supporting cast to explain why the state does not want to expand Medicaid.

Democrats, led by the Brothers Castro, will be responding in a short while.

Here are five things to look for if you’re a political junkie:

Animated GIF by Arlind Maurer

1. Which Republican looks like the leader of the Texas GOP: Perry, Cornyn or Cruz? Perry is governor, Cornyn is the senior senator and Cruz is the national rising star. Is the state big enough for all three?

2. Does Ted Cruz defer to his seniors, Perry and Cornyn? The freshman senator has come on strong in DC, to say the least. Will he come on equally strong in Austin, where he will be standing alongside two puissant figures in their own right.

3. Who looks like the Latino superstar of Texas? Again, we have three nominees, all aged 42 or younger: Cruz, Rep. Joaquin Castro, the president of the Democratic freshman class in Congress, or San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, the Democratic Party’s 2012 convention keynote speaker. This is the first time they’ll be in the same place (at almost the same time) as officeholders. Who looks like the brightest of the bright stars?

4. Can Perry, Cornyn, Cruz and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst explain adequately why the state isn’t willing to take lots and lots of “free money” (or almost free, 90 percent of the immediate cost) to expand health-care services for the neediest Texans, many of them minorities? Texas taxpayers’ dollars are going to fund Medicaid expansion around the country, whether or not the state takes its cut. How strong an argument is “unfunded mandates” — or “states’ rights”?

5. Is the “war on Washington” an eternally effective GOP talking point in Texas? Hard-nosed Republican governors like Rick Scott of Florida and Jan Brewer of Arizona are taking the federal cash for Medicaid expansion. Why should Texas hold out?

6. Can Democrats successfully engage in a policy debate with the GOP on an important policy issue — or are they going to be satisfied with scoring easy political points by attacking Republicans for supposedly ignoring the concerns of the poor, for minorities, for immigrants, for young Texans?

We’ll offer follow-up coverage this afternoon. Please feel free to weigh in with your own answers to these questions.